Gibson, who was named Woman Athlete of the Year in 1957 and 1958, had been ill for several years and passed away at the East Orange General Hospital, where she had spent the last week of her life.
She was the first African-American to compete in the U.S. Championships in 1950 and at Wimbledon in 1951. Gibson went on to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships in 1957 and 1958 and also captured the French Open and three doubles championships at Wimbledon from 1956-58.
The oldest of five children, Gibson broke racial barriers not only in the sport of tennis, but also in golf, where she competed on the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Gibson was also on tour with the Harlem Globetrotters after she retired from tennis in the late 1950's.
Althea Gibson holds the trophies she won by capturing the National women's singles tennis championship in Forest Hills, N.Y., in 1957.(AP Archive)
"I am grateful to Althea Gibson for having the strength and courage to break through the racial barriers in tennis," former No. 1 Venus Williams said Sunday. "Her accomplishments set the stage for my success, and through players like myself, Serena, and many others to come, her legacy will live on."
Gibson claimed her first tennis tournament at the age of 15, as she became the New York State black girls' singles tennis champion.
